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Friday, January 23, 2009

Nope, I don't get paid, but I wish I did to do this. By this, I mean blogging not daddying (Not a real word, deal with it). I apologize for not getting this out earlier as It has been a hectic week, but things are moving along. Lets get into what has happened in another jam packed exciting week of stay at home daddy world.

NO! Don't drop it!Yup, its official! My son took a toy and dropped it on the ground. Only four months old and he has started the endless pick up battle. I can see myself in the near future bending over too many times to pick up a toy that will be on the ground only milliseconds later. If the saying "necessity is the mother of all inventions" has a small ounce of truth I think I can win the war . Trust me, I've thought of different things that might work so that I don't feel like the Greek mythical character Sysiphus (This character was compelled to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, but before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again). I've thought of stringing rubber bands together, but I'm not sure how that would help. I think it would be faster picking up the toy or whatever is in his hand, than spending time making the rubber band contraption. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know! Its for a good cause, MY BACK!

Venus fly trapFEED ME SEYMOUR!!! Yeah, my son now knows how to grasp things and vacuum them into his mouth. He grabs, conquers and licks. It was cute when he didn't know what he was doing and just trying to grab, but now I have to be more conscience of how dirty my hands are. It means they'll get even more dry then they already are; not that I mind it because I'm a man's man, although my wife would say otherwise. He reminds me of a Venus fly trap where anything in close proximity of reach is HIS! He is extending, grabbing and pulling in! Its a work of art and he does it rather gracefully. I'm excited how fast he is developing, but like I said last week, sad that it will be but a memory that I will soon forget.

Peace out!Its been a great week so far and things are just dandy. I thank the Lord everyday I get the opportunity to be with my son. I don't to take him for granted or ever want to. I know it is a privilege and what I do with him at home is just as important, if not more, as if I brought some some bacon. Peace out and until next time!

Monday, January 19, 2009

It's been three months since I was put on forced leave from my job, which lead to the eventual decision to lay me off recently, and I honestly can say that I don't miss it. I don't mention that as a negative reflection on my company or the job itself; its just that being with my son is infinitely better and more rewarding than being a technical recruiter. Besides, being a technical recruiter for the past seven years has not really worked out all that great (This is my second time being laid off in this industry). There is comfort in knowing that my son can't put me on forced leave or lay me off due to cutbacks. Fortunately for me or, perhaps, unfortunately for my son he is stuck with me. Plus, I'm his boss so I can lay him off (or out, when the time comes). Its weird to have been home for this long and see the changes in my son right before my very eyes, but at the same time they have passed me by. What I mean is that I notice him growing and maturing, but I don't notice how fast. I guess my memory fails me as I remember him not being able to smile or laugh or drown in his pj's because he was so small (now its a struggle to find something that fits him) Its an odd occurrence that I notice but not notice at the same time, if that makes any sense. Maybe its because I am a first time dad and every little thing he learns or does is amazing. They create new memories that take place of the old ones. I really would like to keep the old ones, but I can't, seriously.

As a first timer and stay at home pops I look back at this time and found it wasn't too hard to adjust to being at home all the time. Telecommuting for my company helped as I got use to being confined to my house 24/7. It's much easier to sitting at a desk sending emails and answering phone calls than holding a baby with the bottle in one hand and the remote in the other queuing up NFL Network Gameday highlights on the DVR. The perspective of being a father as a privilege really made things easier for me. My wife and I had waited, not by our choice, so long to be blessed with our little dude that him crying was better than not having him at all. I would suggest laying basketball or any other physical activity as helpful. It released weeks of stored up energy. I may have freaked out my buddies from time to time cause I was so hyped, but it was because I was a prisoner of my home teaching and attending to my son. I don't want to give the wrong impression that it was all smooth sailing. There were times when I would melt down because I had absolutely no clue why the little guy was crying, but for the most part it was easier because of these things I mentioned.

Well to end my first blog ever I have to say that being a stay at home dad has been more than I bargined for, but worth the price. There is so much more I want to express, but its getting late and I plan on continuing to blog about stay at home Pop's adventure. So, until next time PPEAACCEE!!!